One Thing You Should Really Be Doing With Your Make-Up Brushes

But seriously though

Sinead Martin |
21 January 2019

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Photograph by Freepik

I get it, there’s already a long list of things you should be doing. – But somewhere between calling your long distance bestie more often and decluttering your wardrobe lies the vital task of washing your make-up brushes. After all, with each passing day those little beauty tools gather dust, dirt, oil and bacteria, which you blissfully unaware apply to your skin with every use. Ewww.

Now that I’ve got you cringing with disgust it’s time to get down to it. But before you rush to your vanity bag to disinfect, here’s a few simple tips on how to do this properly to make sure that you look after your brushes as best you can:

1. First up, supplies

The first step in attaining sterilised make-up brushes is, of course, gathering the right supplies. I’d say there are four main things you need to give your brushes a good washing: Gentle shampoo, water, a rubber mat, and a lint-free towel.

2. Wash

To start, rinse the bristles of your make-up brush with lukewarm water. Be cautious to always keep the water running down the length of the bristles. This will prevent water from streaming into the base of the brush, which can weaken the glue and shorten its life span. Then, work a small amount of gentle shampoo (like baby shampoo) in the bristles and swirl the brush gently on the silicone mat in circular motions, rinsing with water as you go. To protect your brushes, use light pressure as you swish the brush around, if you don’t have a mat then use the palm of your hand.

3. And repeat

Continue to lather and rinse (adding more shampoo if needed) until you notice that the water rinses clear.

4. Dry

Squeeze all of the excess water carefully out of the brush, and reshape the bristles as you go. Now lay your brushes on a lint-free cloth (like a facecloth) to dry. Let the bristles hang over the edge of your sink, and flip them over after a few hours to ensure the best shape. Leave your brushes to dry overnight, it generally takes 8-12 hours.

Depending on how often you use your brushes, I’d recommend giving them some TLC at least every 3 weeks. – BONUS! You’ll notice how much smoother your application is after cleaning them.

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